Caldy – That Friday Feeling 11th April ’25

10 September 2022 was Caldy RFC’s first ever fixture in the Championship, it was a home fixture against Hartpury University. No one at Caldy knew what to expect. The small former level 8 club had, against all odds and defying every bit of rugby and sporting logic, very unexpectedly found themselves at level 2 playing against some very big teams in the Championship. It was a glorious sunny day, but the tingling expectation and excitement was overshadowed by the late Queen’s death.

Rugby was the only live sport in the UK that weekend and a decent crowd at Paton Field was unexpectedly bolstered by a group of Liverpool FC fans from Copenhagen who had travelled for a match at Anfield between Liverpool and Wolves. The postponement of all football had left the Danes expensively twiddling their thumbs until they saw that there was a Championship rugby fixture at Paton Field between Caldy and Hartpury. Knowing absolutely nothing about rugby but having already spent £1,500 each to watch Liverpool at Anfield, these Vikings were determined to enjoy their weekend at Paton Field, and they certainly did that !

The unexpected Vikings enjoy their first visit to Paton Field 
Image – John Lyon

Robbie Fowler meets the Danish fans at Paton Field 
Image – John Lyon

The Ravers’ hospitality extended to a set of Caldy shirts, numerous jugs of beer and a meeting with Caldy supporter and Liverpool FC legend Robbie Fowler who had walked the short distance to Paton Field to also enjoy some live sport. Early conversations with tour leader Mathias had already established that Robbie Fowler was their all-time Liverpool hero, so they were utterly dumbfounded when Robbie joined them for a couple of beers before the game. Mathias and his friends so enjoyed their visit to Paton Field, they set up a Caldy supporters club in Copenhagen and returned to Paton Field for another Championship fixture later that season.

Danish fans establish the Caldy RFC Copenhagen Supporters Club with Jon Bagley & Tom Sanders 
Image – John Lyon

The only thing that eluded these Scandinavian Ravers was a Caldy win as Hartpury ran out victors 22-33.

57 Championship league games and a sprinkling of Premiership cup games have come and gone since that inaugural fixture and Hartpury have prevailed in the four subsequent meetings between the sides. The Gloucester club is the only Championship team that Caldy have yet to beat. Although the Wirral side have narrowly lost their last three Championship matches, they are playing some cracking rugby and with the benefit of a good crowd behind them perhaps this will be the game when they eventually get the better of high flying Hartpury.

Caldy’s Head Coach Matt Cairns has huge respect for Hartpury and acknowledges that they are Caldy’s bogey team. “Hartpury are a very well coached and well-established Championship side. They have a terrific set piece game and some excellent players; we have our work cut out for sure.”

Paton Field is sure to put on an exciting game of rugby on what promises to be the hottest day of the year so far. The match kicks off at 3.00pm with gates open at 12.00 noon. Come down to Paton Field, enjoy a wonderful day out and help get the Ravers over the line against Hartpury .

Matt Cairns has selected the following squad for tomorrow’s home Championship fixture at Paton Field, against Hartpury which kicks off at 3.00 pm.

1. M Weatherby
2. O Hearn
3. N Rushton
4. F Stevenson
5. T Sanders
6. S Olyott
7. J Jordan
8. C Ridgway
9. D Hanson
10. L Barker
11.  W Robinson
12.  M Barlow
13.  C Wilkinson
14.  N Royle
15.  M Kilcourse
16.  M Gallagher
17.  N Rushton
18.  R Higginson
19.  M Rabbette
20.  J Sproston
21. A Aigbokhae
22.  J Tansey
23.  J Mitchell

Tickets for the Championship game against Hartpury are available to buy via our club website
Please go to https://caldyrugbyclub.com/buy-tickets-membership/

Nick Royle attacks against Coventry at the Butts Park Arena last Saturday
Image – John Coles

Many thanks to our u13s / u14s for ball boy duties, plus a host of Senior Rugby volunteers who will be helping with car parking tomorrow – much appreciated. 

Everyone is welcome so please get yourself down to Paton Field to enjoy community rugby at it’s best !

Caldy clubhouse Bar will be open from 12.00 noon tomorrow
Caldy Kitchen & food outlets will be open from 2.00pm

plus Guinness Women’s Six Nations on TV tomorrow
France v Wales ko 12.45pm
Ireland v England ko 4.45pm 

Community Rugby this Sunday 13th April
The season moves on at pace through our final month ! Buon Viaggio to our u15s and Junior Colts who are both off to separate parts of Northern Italy for their end of season tours !
Not to be outdone, most of the rest of our age groups are also going international this Sunday, playing our old friends across the border, Mold – odds are away and evens at home
Minis
u6s training
u7s – u12s home &/or away v Mold
Juniors
u13s away v Mold
u14s home v Mold
u15s on Tour
u16s home v Wirral 
Girls
u14s, u18s training
u16s home v Moore ko 11.00am 
Junior Colts
u17s on Tour 
Senior Colts
Rest weekend  

Good luck to everyone & enjoy your rugby weekend !

But please remember “No referees, No games” – disrespect or verbal abuse of rugby match officials is totally unacceptable & has no place in rugby.

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Rugby coming up next weekend :
Caldy 1st xv away Saturday 19th April
The Championship
Cornish Pirates v Caldy kick off 2.30pm

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Caldy Rugby Club – End of Season Ball